The courtyard falls silent as the carriage rolls in—pulled not by horses, but by a pair of shimmering Qilin. Their antlers gleam like polished ivory, and their golden eyes flicker with ancient wisdom. The Empress of Kai Fu sits poised beside her emperor, her robes woven with constellations.
*{Qilin : Chinese unicorn}
Wang Lee's jaw drops open slightly. Even Yuan Tong stiffens at the sight.
"...Well," Yuan Shi murmurs, "That's new."
The courtyard erupts into movement—Xian Tian's guards surge forward, their armor clanking as they flank the arriving carriage. Emperor Xiuyin Haochen steps out first, his robes a storm of dark red and gold. Empress Xiuhua follows—graceful, lethal—and her gaze sweeps over Yuan Shi like a blade being unsheathed.
Wang Lee shrinks back instinctively behind his father's leg.
"Ah," Yuan Shi says mildly, "...This just got interesting."
They bow each one other.
Empress Xiuhua is silent, her gaze lingering on Wang Lee. A slight smile lifts the corner of her lips—a serpentine expression, sharp as a razor.
Then she looks up at emperor yuan tong, her own voice like cold silk. "Your palace is very beautiful."
Empress Yang-mei leads them inside—through halls of gold and silk, beneath the shadows of jade statues. Everywhere are signs of extreme wealth—rare jewels glistening on jade tables, tapestries of silk and gold thread, intricate patterns carved into every wall.
But all of it is forgotten as they enter the throne room. Emperor Xiuyin stops as he gazes upwards, taking in the golden roof, the painted heavens and constellations, the statue of a dragon carved into the throne.
He's silent for a moment, then... "Impressive."
As the festivities begin, servants rush about, lighting lanterns and draping silk banners. Jugglers perform tricks, acrobats do backflips. But most eyes are on the prince.
Wang Lee is in the center of it all—beaming from ear to ear as he plays with toys, surrounded by a hoard of other kids. He doesn't notice the sharp gaze of the Empress of Kai Fu on his back—doesn't see the way she watches his every move.
Yuan Tong and Emperor Xiuyin step onto the roof—a small balcony overlooking the courtyard. The sounds of the festival are distant, like muted whispers. The moon is full, casting silver light across them both. The air is crisp, quiet.
Emperor Xiuyin leans against the railing, gaze fixed on the distant stars. "It's been a while," he murmurs.
Yuan Tong hums in reply, his back straight as ever. "That, it has."
For a moment, the only sound is the faint crunch of snow underfoot, a stray whisper of the wind. Then Emperor Xiuyin speaks again, quiet. "Your son is very... lively, this year."
(Meanwhile)
The Grand Banquet is nothing short of magnificent. The hall is decked out in silk banners, jade statues and lanterns, each one carrying golden flame. The entire place is ablaze with light—flickering over the walls and reflecting in the eyes of hundreds of nobles. There are dozens of courses, from steamed fish to roasted meats to rare fruits and jade-colored wine.
The air is thick with the scent of spice, rich broth and incense. Laughter echoes off the ceiling and silver cutlery clatters against heavy plates.
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Meanwhile, downstairs, Wang Lee runs around the garden. He's being chased by a gaggle of other children—all laughing and shouting in delight. Their footsteps echo on the cobblestones.
He's fast, ducking and darting, weaving around guards and servants and dodging between fountains. He runs until he's out of breath, and finally ducks into a corner—hidden behind tall potted plants.
Wang Lee jolts as a hand falls on his shoulder. He whips around, expecting one of the other kids... But it's a boy he doesn't recognize.
He has pale skin and eyes like ink, and his hair is pulled back into a low ponytail. He's wearing a simple white robe, but it looks expensive—gold stitches on the hems and a black belt.
Wang Lee blinks at him, a little taken aback. "Who are you?"
Boy replies quietly his eyes never leaving wang lee's face "jiyin. Five"
Wang lee stares at him, a little thrown off. This boy is much younger than the others—no more than five years old (wang lee is 8). His eyes are sharp and curious, staring up at him like Wang Lee's the most interesting thing he's seen in his life.
"...You're five? You're so small."
Suddenly
"...Hey!"
Wang Lee yelps, yanked forward by the little boy. He stumbles, nearly crashing into a wall before catching himself and running after him.
Jiyin is surprisingly fast, slipping through the crowd and dodging servants like a shadow. He weaves through the hall like he knows it intimately, and all the while he's still holding onto Wang Lee's wrist.
"What are you doing?!"
Wang Lee stumbles inside the room, a little disheveled and out of breath. All the women there immediately bow their heads as he enters, but he hardly notices them. His attention is entirely on the little boy tugging at his sleeve, not letting go.
Wang Lee glances down, a little bewildered. The boy looks back up at him with guileless eyes... innocent, like an actual child (which he is).
"Why did you bring me here?"
Jiyin tugs Wang Lee through the room until they reach his mother—Empress Xiuhua. Xiuhua pauses as they approach, looking at them quizzically.
"...What is it?"
Jiyin looks up at her with wide, innocent eyes. He holds tight onto Wang Lee's sleeve as he speaks in a childishly serious voice: "I want to marry this girl."
Every noblewoman in the hall goes still. Xiuhua stares, her tea cup frozen halfway to her lips.
All eyes are on them now—the room is completely silent. Xiuhua lets out a huff of laughter, still recovering from her shock. She smiles down at her son, gently correcting him.
"Dear... he's Wang Lee. He's prince. Not a girl."
The words ring in Wang Lee's ears. He can't do anything but stand still, mouth slightly open in disbelief. This little five-year-old kid just declared that he wants to marry... him?
The noblewomen can't help but stifle their giggles—some covering their mouths with silk sleeves, others fanning themselves in amusement. Wang Lee is burning red.
Jiyin just stares at him, utterly oblivious to the chaos he's caused. His little fingers are still clutching Wang Lee's sleeve.
"...Then I wanna marry this prince,"
Silence.
....
Yuan shi - wang lee's uncle. Prince of xian tian :
Empreror Yuan tong - wang lee's father. Yuan shi's elder brother. Empreror of xian tian :
Empress Yang mei - wang lee's mother. Empress of xian tian :
Emperor Xiuyin Haochen - jiyin's father. Empreror of kai fú :
Empress Xiuhua - jiyin's mother. Empress of kai fú :
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